Thursday, January 12, 2012

Battle Royale U.S. Release!

It's about time Anchor Bay!
The much loved (and personal favorite) film, Battle Royale and its sequel will be released in the U.S. on Blu Ray and DVD on March 20th!  I'm excited.  The set will include 4 discs with both the theatrical cut and director's cut of the films and a ton of bonus content, which includes:

  • Battle Royale Director’s Cut with both Japanese and English language tracks and English subtitles
  • Battle Royale Theatrical Cut with both Japanese and English language tracks and English subtitles
  • Battle Royale II with Japanese language and English subtitles
  • Battle Royale Bonus Content with Japanese language and English subtitles
  • The Making Of Battle Royale
  • Battle Royale Press Conference
  • Instructional Video: Birthday Version
  • Audition & Rehearsal Footage
  • Special Effects Comparison Featurette
  • Tokyo International Film Festival 2000
  • Battle Royale Documentary
  • Basketball Scene Rehearsals
  • Behind-The-Scenes Featurette
  • Filming On-Set
  • Original Theatrical Trailer
  • Special Edition TV Spot
  • TV Spot: Tarantino Version
Check out the trailer release, and if you have never heard of this film before, you are in for a real treat.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Doodlebug by Christopher Nolan

 Doodlebug by Christopher Nolan

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One of the first shorts by Christopher Nolan. I really enjoy randomly looking for shorts that directors shot in the begining of their film careers, kinda inspiring. Here is a short that's really short in length but has a rather interesting story line in a surreal psychologicial puzzle. A nightmare within a nightmare within a dream? 

Friday, December 16, 2011

Preview: The Dark Knight Rises - Prologue

Preview: The Dark Knight Rises - Prologue

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Viewed the Prologue on a raining evening which set the mood for the less than 10 minute long viewing in anticipation that an actual advance screening would be take place but found a seat in the middle row with my girlfriend. Surprisingly there was less than 100 people in attendance.... I'm not going to spoil anything really but the story takes place 8 years after Harvey Dent dies and a new menace surfaces, Bane. If you followed the DC comics of Bane you know that he's this huge masked mammal that breaks Batman's back over his knee like a twig that puts the cape crusader to his knees in the most pain a comic can portray. The prologue introduces Dr. Palov being escorted with a couple of men with black hoods on with a CIA agent among a few mercenaries into a plane. The men are questioned about Bane and unmasked to find Bane himself which was all planned out. Previews of Catwomen, the Batwing and ending with Batman facing off with Bane. The final chapter in the Batman story. The quality of the film work was amazing and the introduction left me guessing what's going to happen next.  The casting is close to perfect with Thomas Hardy as Bane and Ann Hathaway as Catwomen. I still have my slight doubts about Catwomen's portrayal but it's Christopher Nolan. This is on my number one list of most anticipated films for 2012. Just have a hunch. 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Introducing: Dave, owner of Friends of Sound

Introducing: Dave, owner of Friends of Sound


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Friends of Sound is a hidden jem on South Congress that's a gold mind for the record collector of all types. I've spent time in and out of the store with new sounds that ring through my ears for days. Of all the record stores I've been to in the good ole USA and England, I will highly reccommend this spot. I'm sure DJ Shadow and Madlib have selected records from this location on numerous occasions among other DJ's. An extremely knowledgeable staff lead by Dave the owner of the location. Also know as DJ Cool Hands. Dave took a moment to share his thoughts on records, tunes and a little bit about the record store industry.  
Feel free to take stroll down to his store or surf the internet highways to his site for more information. 
http://www.friendsofsound.com/


What are some jems that are in your records collection?

Gloria Ann Taylor, "Deep Inside of You," ep. This record epitomizes where I've ended up with my musical tastes. Most records come and go for me. Due to the business I am in I tend to keep them for a short time and then move them. But, the Gloria Ann Taylor is one that I could just never bring myself to let go of.

How long have you owned a record store and how did it come about?
I have owned Friends of Sound Records in Austin for approximately 6 years. The store came about because I had a problem. I couldn't stop amassing records and my personal collection surpassed 20,000. My wife said it was either me or them. At the time, I was also unemployed and it seemed like a far more enjoyable career than many others I could have chosen.
What goes into opening and maintaining a record store?
The collector in you has to die. You can't only stock records you like because the general record buyer doesn't necessarily want a store full of Japanese Modern Soul with a funky glockenspiel break. You have to put yourself in the position of a buyer with tastes other than your own. You need to constantly keep up to date on the trends in sales of different genres and keep a balanced stock available for consumers.
What are your thoughts on the record industry and digital distribution?

Since it's inception, the record business has been a constant evolving and shifting entity. The recent focus on digitizing music has positive and negative connotations. On the positive side, people have access to music like never before and it is easier for musicians to get their songs heard. On the negative side, I personally feel, that there is something lost when you digitize a song, Yes, people may be able to hear it, but there is more to music then just the song. There's a visual aesthetic that is important to the overall experience and that is often lost in digital translation.

Any producers that you would love to see scoring a film?
Pete Rock. He never gets enough credit and he's always been amazing.


You're a DJ as well? What tunes come in rotation and any upcoming gigs?

In Austin, I participate in a great soul night called the New Day. It is at the Highball on S. Lamar and takes place the third Saturday of every month. I also have a guest spot in February at Title Town in Pittsburgh.
 I have been on a late 70's/early 80's soul kick.

Some of your current tunes that are really tickling your ear?
My top 5 right now are 1) Split Decision Band- Everybody's Watchin Out   2) Trace of Smoke- Treasure Mind  3) The Spinners - It's a Shame  4) McKinley Mitchell - Party Across the Hall 5) Clifton Dyson - I'm Giving Up
What is your favorite film monster?
Animal from the Muppets. 

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Film Review: Werewolves on Wheels

Film Review:Werewolves on Wheels

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A biker/horror film directed by Michel Levesque from the early 70s. A gang of bikers while on their travels of wreaking havoc stumble onto an old church and mysteriously pass out after gluttonously devouring food offering from the church clergy to find themselves being slaughtered nightly by a creature. The bikers face the werewolf and soon head back to the church with vengeance to face their match with a Satanic cult in a very psychedelic manner. The film actually used real bikers for the scenes with no film experience for many of the road scenes. The music score was good and fit the film very well. The story was interesting but more shots of the werewolves would have been good. I found the film to be alright with good intentions.

2.5 out of 4 stars

Rick Baker

Rick Baker



Here's a really cool interview from the past with 6 time Academy award winning make up artist who has worked on American Werewolf In London, The Exorcist, King Kong and Star Wars to name a few. It's really nice to see this work compared to computer graphics in film.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Film Review:Beyond the Black Rainbow

Film Review:Beyond the Black Rainbow

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Written and directed by Panos Cosmatos, his first feature. This Sci-Fi thriller takes place in the 1980s in an underground laboratory named The Arboria Initiative with it's main focus experimenting with mind altering drugs to push the envelope of the human mind. Lead researcher, Barry Nyle is overseeing the treatment of Alena.  The film is shot in a very stylish way that I can see paying homage to old 70s Sci-Fi films and Kubrick with it's intense edge of your seat in question of what is going on in a psychedelic way. The acting in the film was kept at a minimum with more focus on the surroundings. The music of the film is a perfect sound scape to the ambiance with a close feel to Boards of Canada meets Kraftwerk. I found this film to be very innovative in every aspect and look forward to more films from the director. 
Here is a trailor of the film. 

I give this 3 out of 4 stars.